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Topic Review (Newest First)

05-13-2012 06:28 AM

nnarth212

update?

02-03-2012 02:59 PM

somewhatshocked

PH & Ammo tests aren't always the same - you have to check the packaging.

As far as light cycle? I shoot for about 8 hours of light per day in my high light tanks. Tend to time them with the hours I'm home and able to view them for the most enjoyment. In really low light tanks, I've been able to get away with 10-12 hours of lighting per day without issues.

Probably going to need to raise that fixture up a bit, as others have suggested. And be aware that your hair grass will eventually over take your baby tears without some sort of separator between the two.

This is a beautiful tank, though, and that wood is outstanding. Can't wait to see how this turns out.

02-03-2012 02:25 PM

cdunson82

Thank you, this is truely my first planted tank. I have had a few Saltwater tanks but never a planted tank. I have to say that this is a complete 180 from saltwater tanks. High light in this hobby would be considered extremly low light in saltwater and you would get shunned for ordering a light off of Ebay. But I have to say it is a lot of fun.

So any ideas on light cycles? How long to leave the light on?

Also are the PH and Ammonia test that you have in Saltwater Test Kits the same as are used with freshwater?

02-03-2012 05:33 AM

loveflying

i think just having a tall hair grass would look really cool in the backgroud

02-03-2012 02:59 AM

xenxes

Wow, the wood placement looks epic!! First timer? Lies!

That 12g long is probably my favorite sized tank. Can't wait till I have room for one

02-03-2012 02:21 AM

cdunson82

Water is in

So my wife talked me into adding water last night so I did. I actually like the flow of the Tom's Rapid Mini Canister but we will see how long that lasts. I have taken one of the bulbs out of the light fixture in fear of the two bulbs being over kill. The water has been in the tank for about 20 hours and seems like it is doing well. I have maybe one leaf of the HC that has died and there is a lot of pearling. Overall I think it is looking good.

Two questions:
1) How long of a light cycle do you guys recommend? My saltwater tank has moonlight, sunrise/sunset and daylight but with this one I don't want to give it too little light and I don't want to have a bunch of algae either.

2) What kind of plants do you suggest for the background?

01-31-2012 04:18 PM

cdunson82

I understand about the substrate. All of my hairgrass has rooted and started growing so I really dont want to mess with anything haha. I will see how everything looks down the line and if I think it needs to change I will look at doing so but for right now I really like what it looks like. Thanks for the idea and kind words.

01-31-2012 04:11 AM

williamsonaaron

Looks really excellent. I would not have guessed you to be a first timer... well done.

Can't wait to see it with water and fish.

01-31-2012 03:36 AM

ace123

I believe CAM6467 was talking about making the substrate in the back of the tank higher than in the front not just the corner. It would give it a little more depth. something along the lines of this.

Not that it looks bad as it is but it just depends on what look your going for. Your tank looks like its off to a great start btw.

01-31-2012 01:20 AM

cdunson82

SO I got my HC today and put it in. I love the way this stuff looks.

01-26-2012 10:05 PM

cdunson82

Yes thank you - I realized what DSM stood for following my post. Felt a little like a retard lol

I tried posting to see if anyone was selling HC in the SNS section but no one responded that is why I pulled the trigger on the ebay ones. I should get them early next week so I will post pictures after I get them.

01-26-2012 09:50 PM

endgin28

For what its worth, you can get some exceptional good deals on plants in the SNS, and quality is usually as high or higher than other sources. Lots of interesting stuff comes up, HC is usually very common given that trimming is frequent. It usually means that you are by plants that are in the immersed form, versus pots that are usually grown emmersed and will require an adjustment period when dunked. Since you are using DSM this is a non issue, but often helps with initial immersed planting.

The tank dimensions are 35.4" x 8.3" x 9.4 inches. I love shallow tanks which is why I got it.

The Rummy-nose Tetra looks really cool, are they shoaling fish as well? Excuse my ignorance but the planted world has a whole new set of acronyms to learn, what is DSM?

Sorry about that... the problem with acronyms is that we all get used to them and then we forget that not everyone uses/knows them. Dry Start Method.

Yes the rummy-nose is a shoaling fish.

01-26-2012 01:39 PM

cdunson82

So I used the rest of the substrate that I had to do as much of a slope as I could, mainly was able to do a slope in the left corner. Ill take pictures tonight and see what you think but I really like it.

I finally got tired of trying to find HC locally so pulled the trigger on 3 pots from Ebay. Has anyone ever dealt with Planted Aquariums Central from ebay? They were a pretty good price and cheap shipping compaired to everything else that I saw online. My vision for these two plants is to have the HC in front and the Hairgrass in the back.

01-26-2012 12:22 AM

endgin28

Depends on what your drop checker tells you. I over filter the heck out my tanks, so I have some out gassing. I would start at one BPS and see what that does. Less surface agitation will mean more gas, so I would go for emerald green and see what it takes.

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